coral fish a name sometimes used in English for certain of the numerous species of small fish which have their habitat in the coral reefs of tropical waters. These include species in the family Pomacanthidae (otherwise known as angel fish) and Chaetodontidae (butterfly fish). It is characteristic of fish of the coral reefs to be deep bodied and prettily coloured rather than good to eat, although most are edible.
Other fish to which the name ‘coral fish’ is not specifically applied but which can conveniently be grouped under the name include some more angel fish (family Chelmonidae), batfish (Drepanidae), and leaf-fish (Platacidae).
